Letter to prisoner of war John Valentine from his wife Ursula

Letter to prisoner of war John Valentine from his wife Ursula

Writes of her activities mentioning house painting finished and she is looking after a friend's child. Says sister is away and reports arrival of his letters and postcards. Catches up with news and gossip.

1943-05-03

Two sided handwritten letter card

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EValentineUMValentineJRM430503

Start of transcription
[inserted] R & A 31/5 [/inserted]
59.
DATE May 3rd 1943
My darling Johnnie,
I’m in the thick of a hectic day, utilising 10 minutes of comparative lull to write to you. Vera Bowack & Michael arrived last Thursday, & unfortunately the house-painters took longer than anticipated, owing to bad weather, so that they are finishing off only today. Vera has gone up to town to do some shopping, & I am coping with both children. Michael has finished his lunch & Frances hasn’t woken yet so there is a lull. Michael is a fine baby of 9 months, as like Norman as a baby could be, with just the same forehead & intensely blue eyes. He’s luckily very placid & gets on well with me. Frances is thrilled to have a baby in the house, so I’m hoping she’ll make a good “big sister” when the time comes. I too am thrilled to have a wee one to look after again – how I wish I had one of my own! Ba is away on a week’s holiday in Wales, which should do her lots of good. Letters 5 & 8, pc’s 4 & 7 arrived this morning, many thanks dearest, you’re certainly a very good correspondent for a P/W!! Thank you for all the nice things you have written about me, they are quite unmerited but make very pleasant reading for me. Sorry about Hans Lensing’s jilt, but I too gathered from this end that there was a Waaf well in the running. You need never fear of anything like that happening
[page break]
to you, I live only for you & Frances – tho’ I [underlined] am [/underlined] going out to a show with Stewart next Saturday he’s on a course nearby & has got us 2 expensive stalls & booked a table for supper at Oddenino’s which is decent of him. I expect he’ll stay Saturday night here. I don’t suppose [underlined] that [/underlined] it will make you jealous! Bunty doesn’t seem to be. Moor-Coulson is not far from Leslie & quite O.K. I’ll try to contact Joan. All my love
Ursula.
[stamp GEPRUFT]
[postmark] [postage stamp]
RANK & NAME: Sergeant J.R.M. VALENTINE
British Prisoner of War
PRISONER OF WAR No: 450 –
CAMP NAME & NO: STALAG LUFT III
COUNTRY: Germany
[stamp PASSED P.W. 7856]
Mrs JRM Valentine
Lido, Tenterden
Grove, Hendon,
London NW4